As the NHL regular season approaches, the franchises are ready and hockey fans can already buy NHL tickets. We’re here to be your guide and answer the key questions about the upcoming season!
Overview of the NHL Season
Explanation of the NHL Season Format
Running from October to April, the regular season is split into 2 conferences (Eastern and Western) and then 2 divisions within each conference (Atlantic and Metropolitan in the Eastern Conference and Central and Pacific in the Western Conference). Teams from each conference play 28 games in their own division (4 against each of their 7 other divisional opponents) and 24 games against the 8 opponents in the other division in their conference (3 games against every team). All teams play every team in the other conference twice, at home and away. A win is worth 2 points; losing in overtime or a shootout is 1 point; and a loss in regulation time is 0 points.
At the end of the regular season, the team that has gained the most points in each division is the division champion, and the league's overall points leader wins the Presidents' Trophy. The top 3 teams in each division plus the 2 conference teams with the next highest number of points qualify for the NHL Playoffs which will start in April 2024. The playoff teams compete to progress through several best-of-7 series rounds and hope to reach and maybe even win the Stanley Cup Finals.
NHL Conferences & Teams
The league is divided into 2 conferences:
Eastern Conference
The Atlantic Division features the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Metropolitan Division features the Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Washington Capitals.
Western Conference
The Central Division features the Arizona Coyotes, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues, and Winnipeg Jets.
The Pacific Division features the Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken, Vancouver Canucks, and Vegas Golden Knights.
Notable NHL Regular Season Events
NHL Global Series
The NHL Global Series allows fans from other corners of the world to enjoy the globe’s elite ice hockey league. In 2023, NHL Global Series games that cover as regular season games include:
- Detroit Red Wings v Ottawa Senators (16 Nov 2023 at Avicii Arena, Stockholm, Sweden)
- Toronto Maple Leafs v Detroit Red Wings (17 Nov 2023 at Avicii Arena, Stockholm, Sweden)
- Minnesota Wild v Ottawa Senators (18 Nov 2023 at Avicii Arena, Stockholm, Sweden)
- Toronto Maple Leafs v Minnesota Wild (19 Nov 2023 at Avicii Arena, Stockholm, Sweden)
NHL Outdoor Games
The NHL Winter Classic on 1 January 2024 at T-Mobile Park, Seattle is one of the NHL’s 3 outdoor fixtures along with the NHL Heritage Classic (Edmonton Oilers v Calgary Flames on 29 October 2023 at Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton) and the NHL Stadium Series (New Jersey Devils v Philadelphia Flyers on 17 February 2024 and New York Islanders v New York Rangers on 18 February 2024 both at MetLife Stadium).
NHL All-Star Weekend
Another key NHL date is the NHL All-Star Weekend from 2-3 February 2024 at the Scotiabank Arena, Toronto.
FAQs
What happened in the 2022/23 season?
In the 2022/23 NHL regular season, the Boston Bruins set records for wins (65) and points (135) on their way to winning the Presidents’ Trophy, but sadly – as is often the case – this did not translate into a fairytale postseason as they were knocked out in the first round by eventual finalists Florida Panthers. The Panthers faced the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final
When does the 2023/24 season begin?
The 2023/24 NHL regular season begins on 10 October 2023 when the current Stanley Cup champions the Vegas Golden Knights raise their banner against the newest team in the NHL, Seattle Kraken: a team that had an impressive second season in the NHL in 2022/23. There are also 2 other games on 10 October with Tampa Bay Lightning hosting the Nashville Predators and the Pittsburgh Penguins hosting the Chicago Blackhawks.
What are some notable events during the 2023/24 NHL regular season?
Standing out from over 1,300 exciting matchups are the big rivalry games as well as tense conflicts not to mention the point-clinching fixtures when it really matters. Some of the more unique events in the 2023/24 NHL season include:
- NHL Heritage Classic: Edmonton Oilers v Calgary Flames (29 October 2023 at Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton)
- NHL Winter Classic: Seattle Kraken v Vegas Golden Knights (1 January 2024 at T-Mobile Park, Seattle)
- NHL Stadium Series (New Jersey Devils v Philadelphia Flyers on 17 February 2024 and New York Islanders v New York Rangers on 18 February 2024 both at MetLife Stadium)
- NHL All-Star Weekend (2-3 February 2024 at the Scotiabank Arena, Toronto)
What are some popular NHL rivalry games?
As such an historic league, the NHL is full of intense rivalries. Some of the ones to look out for include:
- Boston Bruins v Montreal Canadiens
- Montreal Canadiens v Toronto Maple Leafs
- Pittsburgh Penguins v Washington Capitals
- Calgary Flames v Edmonton Oilers
- Chicago Blackhawks v Detroit Red Wings
- New York Rangers v New York Islanders
How can I stay updated with NHL season information?
To be kept updated about the NHL regular season and other NHL information, you can add the NHL to your Koobit interests. The full NHL schedule is also listed on Koobit, enabling you to see ticket prices, puck-drop times, and any additional tips about the venues.